Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-10
TRACKED TO CALEDONIA.
A YOung Woman who EIoped with
a nIustc Teacher Consents to Re-

A YOung Woman Who EIoped with
a music Teacher Consents to RE-
turn Home.
Philadelphia Press
Detective Miller of the Miller q Sharkey
Detective Agency, returned Saturday
from Fresno, CAL, where he succeeded in
tracing an clipping couple whose sudden
departure from Pennsgrove, N. j., in
December last, was the biggest sensation
the village ever experienced. The man
YVES. Pemberton Pierce, well-known
music teacher of the place, and the
woman Miss Fannie Yates of Spring
field, ILL.,, who six months ago came to
Pennsgrove as Pierce's assistant The
young woman's parents accompanied Mr..
Miller to California, and the erring
daughter consented TO return home with
them after considerable hesitation.
Pierce is about IS years Of age and de-
cidedly fine-looking. He came to Penns-
grove several years ago and married q
worthy young woman. He had = largo
number of music pupils and blso took a
prominent part in st. Pants Methodist
Church matters. He was a strong Prohi-
hitinpist, aud in 1885 was candidate for
the Legislature. He was also q Grand
Army man ard Free Mason. His skill
as musician won him so large number
of pupils that he was compelled 10 en-
ploy several assistants. None of these
remained very long with him, but until
the elopement in December his life was
thought TO be one of the most exemplary
character.
1t was late in the summer that Miss
Yates came TO assist Pierce, having Sc.
cured the position through o musical
agency. She was exceedingly pretty and
lively, and at once became great
favorite in the place. She was possessed
of superior musical abilities, and was
gladly welcomed in the houses of the best
people. Nothing wrong was noticed until
suddenly one morning in December both
were missing. II was learned that Pierce
had borrowed 5000 in town and had taken
il with HIM Word was sent to the young
woman's parents and they employed Mil
Ter a. Sharkey to trace the couple. After
careful investigation in Pennse grove
Miller obtained slight clue and traced
the guilty couple to San Francisco. He
Immediately started for California. stop
ping on his way at Springfield for the
girls parents, who are very well TODD
people. A stop was made at Salt Lake
City and one or two other places. When
San Francisco was reached it was found
that the couple had gone to Los Angeles
and from there to Fresno.
When Detective Miller showed the pho
tographa TO the young woman clerk TT the
post ofli1s she identified them as Pro
lessor and Mrs. Pearson, who had been in
the town about two weeks, and who, by
their musical abiliti,s and strong religious
tendencies, bad won their way into the
hearts of many of the best people of the
place. They were boarding at the house
of a man named Degsn. When con-
fronted by her parents the girl broke
down entirely, confessed her shame, ex-
pressed penitence and said she would go
home with them at once. Pierce ad-
mitted his guilt also, and endeavored to
place thu blame on the girl. He said that
as soon as his wife had obtained divorce
from him on the ground of desertion he
intended to marry the girl. He also
visited the local newspaper offices and
with GOODNESS worthy of hardened Grim
iual, admitted the facts of the case and
asked that they be suppressed. He left
town soon after to avoid arrest and no
attempt was made to follow him.. His
wife is still in Pennsgrove, and like the
parents of his yictem, is heart. broken.
Pierce left several children to share their
mothers grief and disgrace.